Systems and methods for combustor panel

ABSTRACT

A combustor panel of a combustor may include a combustion facing surface, a cooling surface opposite the combustion facing surface, and heat transfer pins extending from the cooling surface. A grouping of the heat transfer pins may include a metallic coating.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of, claims priority to and the benefitof, U.S. Ser. No. 15/238,443 filed Aug. 16, 2016 and entitled “SYSTEMSAND METHODS FOR COMBUSTOR PANEL,” which is incorporated herein byreference in its entirety for all purposes.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to gas turbine engines, and morespecifically, to combustor panels used in a combustor of a gas turbineengine.

BACKGROUND

A gas turbine engine typically includes a fan section, a compressorsection, a combustor section, and a turbine section. A fan section maydrive air along a bypass flowpath while a compressor section may driveair along a core flowpath. In general, during operation, air ispressurized in the compressor section and is mixed with fuel and burnedin the combustor section to generate hot combustion gases. The hotcombustion gases flow through the turbine section, which extracts energyfrom the hot combustion gases to power the compressor section and othergas turbine engine loads. The compressor section typically includes lowpressure and high pressure compressors, and the turbine section includeslow pressure and high pressure turbines.

Combustors used in gas turbine engines rely on combustor panels asthermal shields and to guide combustion gases into the turbine. Thesecombustor panels interface with hot combustion gases and are oftensusceptible to structural damage and/or oxidation caused by the hightemperature of the combustion gases. The structural damage and/oroxidation of the combustor panels may result in the combustor having ashort operational life.

SUMMARY

In various embodiments, the present disclosure provides a combustorpanel of a combustor. The combustor panel may include a combustionfacing surface, a cooling surface opposite the combustion facingsurface, and heat transfer pins extending from the cooling surface,wherein a grouping of the heat transfer pins includes a metalliccoating. In various embodiments, the grouping of the heat transfer pinsis an aft grouping that includes at least one row of the heat transferpins adjacent an aft edge of the combustor panel. In variousembodiments, a forward grouping of the heat transfer pins is uncoated.In various embodiments, a first circumferential distance betweenadjacent heat transfer pins having the metallic coating in the aftgrouping is less than a second circumferential distance between adjacentheat transfer pins in the forward grouping. For example, the firstcircumferential distance may be between about 0.010 inches and about0.040 inches. In various embodiments, the first circumferential distancemay be less than about 0.020 inches. In various embodiments, the aftgrouping of the heat transfer pins includes between one and five rows ofthe heat transfer pins adjacent an aft edge of the combustor panel.

According to various embodiments, combustor panel is an aft combustorpanel. The metallic coating may be a first stage bond coating applied tothe combustion facing surface. In various embodiments, the metalliccoating may be disposed on an aft portion and a lateral portion of theaft grouping of the heat transfer pins. In various embodiments, aforward portion of the aft grouping of the heat transfer pins isuncoated.

Also disclosed herein, according to various embodiments, is a combustorof a gas turbine engine. The combustor may include an outer shell, aninner shell, an outer combustor panel mounted to and radially inward ofthe outer shell and comprising a plurality of heat transfer pins, and aninner combustor panel mounted to an radially outward of the inner shell.A grouping of the plurality of heat transfer pins may extend radiallyoutward from the outer combustor panel and may extend radially inwardfrom the inner combustor panel and may include a metallic coating.

In various embodiments, the grouping of the plurality of heat transferpins is an aft grouping and may include a row of the heat transfer pinsadjacent an aft edge of the outer combustor panel and the innercombustor panel. In various embodiments, a forward grouping of the heattransfer pins of the outer combustor panel and the inner combustor areuncoated. In various embodiments, the metallic coating may be disposedon aft and lateral portions of the aft grouping of the plurality of heattransfer pins of the outer combustor panel and the inner combustorpanel.

Also disclosed herein, according to various embodiments, is a method ofmanufacturing a combustor. The method includes applying a metalliccoating on a combustion facing surface of a combustor panel, applyingthe metallic coating on an edge of the aft combustor panel, and applyingthe metallic coating on a grouping of heat transfer pins extending froma cooling surface opposite the combustion facing surface of the aftcombustor panel. In various embodiments, the combustor panel is an aftcombustor panel, the edge is an aft edge, and the grouping of heattransfer pins is an aft grouping of heat transfer pins.

In various embodiments, the method further includes, after the applyingthe metallic coating on the combustion facing surface of the aftcombustor panel, applying a ceramic coating on the combustion facingsurface of the aft combustor panel. The method may further includepreventing the ceramic coating from application on the aft grouping ofthe heat transfer pins extending from the cooling surface opposite thecombustion facing surface of the aft combustor panel. In variousembodiments, the method may be performed with the aft combustor panelmounted to a combustor shell. In various embodiments, the applying themetallic coating on the aft grouping of the heat transfer pins includeapplying the metallic coating on aft and lateral portions of the aftgrouping of the heat transfer pins. In various embodiments, after theapplying the metallic coating on the aft grouping of the heat transferpins, a forward portion of the aft grouping of the heat transfer pinsmay be uncoated.

The forgoing features and elements may be combined in variouscombinations without exclusivity, unless expressly indicated hereinotherwise. These features and elements as well as the operation of thedisclosed embodiments will become more apparent in light of thefollowing description and accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a cross-sectional view of an exemplary gas turbineengine, in accordance with various embodiments;

FIG. 2 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a combustor of gas turbineengine, in accordance with various embodiments;

FIG. 3 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a combustor panel of acombustor of a gas turbine engine, in accordance with variousembodiments;

FIG. 4 illustrates a cross-sectional view of heat transfer pins of acombustor panel, in accordance with various embodiments;

FIG. 5 illustrates a radially inward plan view of an aft grouping ofheat transfer pins of a combustor panel having a metallic coating, inaccordance with various embodiments; and

FIG. 6 is a schematic flowchart diagram of a method of manufacturing acombustor, in accordance with various embodiments.

The subject matter of the present disclosure is particularly pointed outand distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. Amore complete understanding of the present disclosure, however, may bestbe obtained by referring to the detailed description and claims whenconsidered in connection with the drawing figures, wherein like numeralsdenote like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The detailed description of exemplary embodiments herein makes referenceto the accompanying drawings, which show exemplary embodiments by way ofillustration. While these exemplary embodiments are described insufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice thedisclosure, it should be understood that other embodiments may berealized and that logical changes and adaptations in design andconstruction may be made in accordance with this disclosure and theteachings herein without departing from the spirit and scope of thedisclosure. Thus, the detailed description herein is presented forpurposes of illustration only and not of limitation.

In various embodiments and with reference to FIG. 1, a gas turbineengine 20 is provided. Gas turbine engine 20 may be a two-spool turbofanthat generally incorporates a fan section 22, a compressor section 24, acombustor section 26 and a turbine section 28. Alternative engines mayinclude, for example, an augmentor section among other systems orfeatures. In operation, fan section 22 can drive coolant (e.g., air)along a bypass flow-path B while compressor section 24 can drive coolantalong a core flow-path C for compression and communication intocombustor section 26 then expansion through turbine section 28. Althoughdepicted as a turbofan gas turbine engine 20 herein, it should beunderstood that the concepts described herein are not limited to usewith turbofans as the teachings may be applied to other types of turbineengines including three-spool architectures.

Gas turbine engine 20 may generally comprise a low speed spool 30 and ahigh speed spool 32 mounted for rotation about an engine centrallongitudinal axis A-A′ relative to an engine static structure 36 orengine case via several bearing systems 38, 38-1, and 38-2. Enginecentral longitudinal axis A-A′ is oriented in the z direction on theprovided xyz axis. It should be understood that various bearing systems38 at various locations may alternatively or additionally be provided,including for example, bearing system 38, bearing system 38-1, andbearing system 38-2.

Low speed spool 30 may generally comprise an inner shaft 40 thatinterconnects a fan 42, a low pressure compressor 44 and a low pressureturbine 46. Inner shaft 40 may be connected to fan 42 through a gearedarchitecture 48 that can drive fan 42 at a lower speed than low speedspool 30. Geared architecture 48 may comprise a gear assembly 60enclosed within a gear housing 62. Gear assembly 60 couples inner shaft40 to a rotating fan structure. High speed spool 32 may comprise anouter shaft 50 that interconnects a high pressure compressor 52 and highpressure turbine 54.

A combustor 56 may be located between high pressure compressor 52 andhigh pressure turbine 54. The combustor section 26 may have an annularwall assembly having inner and outer shells that support respectiveinner and outer heat shielding liners. The heat shield liners mayinclude a plurality of combustor panels that collectively define theannular combustion chamber of the combustor 56. An annular coolingcavity is defined between the respective shells and combustor panels forsupplying cooling air. Impingement holes are located in the shell tosupply the cooling air from an outer air plenum and into the annularcooling cavity.

A mid-turbine frame 57 of engine static structure 36 may be locatedgenerally between high pressure turbine 54 and low pressure turbine 46.Mid-turbine frame 57 may support one or more bearing systems 38 inturbine section 28. Inner shaft 40 and outer shaft 50 may be concentricand rotate via bearing systems 38 about the engine central longitudinalaxis A-A′, which is collinear with their longitudinal axes. As usedherein, a “high pressure” compressor or turbine experiences a higherpressure than a corresponding “low pressure” compressor or turbine.

The core airflow C may be compressed by low pressure compressor 44 thenhigh pressure compressor 52, mixed and burned with fuel in combustor 56,then expanded over high pressure turbine 54 and low pressure turbine 46.Turbines 46, 54 rotationally drive the respective low speed spool 30 andhigh speed spool 32 in response to the expansion.

In various embodiments, geared architecture 48 may be an epicyclic geartrain, such as a star gear system (sun gear in meshing engagement with aplurality of star gears supported by a carrier and in meshing engagementwith a ring gear) or other gear system. Geared architecture 48 may havea gear reduction ratio of greater than about 2.3 and low pressureturbine 46 may have a pressure ratio that is greater than about five(5). In various embodiments, the bypass ratio of gas turbine engine 20is greater than about ten (10:1). In various embodiments, the diameterof fan 42 may be significantly larger than that of the low pressurecompressor 44, and the low pressure turbine 46 may have a pressure ratiothat is greater than about five (5:1). Low pressure turbine 46 pressureratio may be measured prior to inlet of low pressure turbine 46 asrelated to the pressure at the outlet of low pressure turbine 46 priorto an exhaust nozzle. It should be understood, however, that the aboveparameters are exemplary of various embodiments of a suitable gearedarchitecture engine and that the present disclosure contemplates othergas turbine engines including direct drive turbofans. A gas turbineengine may comprise an industrial gas turbine (IGT) or a geared aircraftengine, such as a geared turbofan, or non-geared aircraft engine, suchas a turbofan, or may comprise any gas turbine engine as desired.

As mentioned above, the high operating temperatures and pressure ratiosof the combustion gases in the combustor section 26 may create operatingenvironments that damage the various components, such as the combustorpanels, and thereby shorten the operational life of the combustorpanels. As disclosed herein, a metallic coating may be applied to an aftgrouping of heat transfer pins extending from the combustor panels,which results in improved heat transfer and thus prolongs theoperational life of the combustor panels.

With reference to FIG. 2, an in accordance with various embodiments, oneor more combustor thermal shields 108 may be positioned in combustor 56to protect various features of the combustor 56 from the hightemperature flames and/or combustion gases. The combustor 56, in variousembodiments, may have a combustor chamber 102 defined by a combustorouter shell 104 and a combustor inner shell 184. The combustor chamber102 may form a region of mixing of core airflow C (with brief referenceto FIG. 1) and fuel, and may direct the high-speed exhaust gasesproduced by the ignition of this mixture inside the combustor 56. Thecombustor outer shell 104 and the combustor inner shell 184 may providestructural support to the combustor 56 and its components. For example,a combustor outer shell 104 and a combustor inner shell 184 may comprisea substantially cylindrical canister portion defining an inner areacomprising the combustor chamber 102.

As mentioned above, it may be desirable to protect the combustor outershell 104 and the combustor inner shell 184 from the harmful effects ofhigh temperatures. Accordingly, one or more combustor thermal shields108 may be disposed inside the combustor chamber 102 and may providesuch protection.

The combustor thermal shields 108 may comprise a partial cylindrical orconical surface section (e.g., may have a cross-section comprising anarc length). An outer combustor thermal shield may be arranged radiallyinward of the combustor outer shell 104, for example, circumferentiallyabout the inner surface of the combustor outer shell 104 and one or moreinner combustor thermal shields may also be arranged radially outward ofthe combustor inner shell 184. The combustor thermal shields 108 maycomprise a variety of materials, such as metal, metal alloys, and/orceramic matrix composites, among others.

With reference to FIG. 3 and as mentioned above, the combustor thermalshields 108 may be made from a plurality of combustor panels 110, inaccordance with various embodiments. The combustor panels 110 mayinclude attachment features 114 and heat transfer pins 116. A combustorpanel 110 may be made of a thermal insulator material. The combustorpanel 110 may be made from partial cylindrical or conical surfacesections. The combustor panels 110 may be directly exposed to the heatand/or flame in the combustor chamber 102. In various embodiments, thecombustor panels 110 may include a combustion facing surface 112 and acooling surface 113 opposite the combustion facing surface 112. Thus,the combustor panels 110 may be made of any suitable heat tolerantmaterial. In this manner, the combustor panels 110 may be substantiallyresistant to thermal mechanical fatigue in order to inhibit cracking ofthe combustor panels 110 and/or to inhibit liberation of portions of thecombustor panels 110. In various embodiments, the combustor panel 110may be made from a nickel based alloy and/or a cobalt based alloy, amongothers. For example, the combustor panel may be made from a highperformance nickel-based super alloy. In various embodiments, thecombustor panel 110 may be made from a cobalt-nickel-chromium-tungstenalloy.

The one or more attachment features 114 of the combustor panels 110facilitate coupling and/or mounting of the combustor panels 110 to therespective shells 104, 184 of the combustor 56. In various embodiments,the attachment features 114 may be a boss or a stud extending radiallyoutward relative to the combustor panel 110. In various embodiments, theattachment feature 114 is a cylindrical boss, such as a threaded pin, ormay be a rectangular boss, such as for receiving a clip, or may be anyother apparatus whereby the combustor panel 110 is mounted to thecombustor outer shell 104 or the combustor inner shell 184. In variousembodiments, the attachment feature 114 comprises a threaded stud thatextends through a corresponding aperture in the combustor outer shell104 or the combustor inner shell 184, and is retained in position by anattachment nut 115 disposed outward of the combustor outer shell 104 andtorqued so that the attachment feature 114 is preloaded with a retainingforce and securely affixes the combustor thermal panel 110 in asubstantially fixed position relative to the combustor outer shell 104or the combustor inner shell 184.

The heat transfer pins 116, according to various embodiments, are pinsextending radially from the cooling surface 113 of the combustor panel110. The heat transfer pins 116 may be cylindrical or may have arectangular or other polygonal cross-sectional shape. In variousembodiments, the heat transfer pins 116 may be spaced apart from asurface of the combustor outer shell 104 or the combustor inner shell184 or the heat transfer pins 116 may be in contact with a surface ofthe combustor outer shell 104 or the combustor inner shell 184. Asmentioned above, the space between the respective combustor outer shell104 and the combustor inner shell 184 and the combustor panel is definedherein as an annular cooling cavity 117.

In various embodiments, the combustor panels 110 are made by casting ametal material to form the attachment features 114 and the heat transferpins 116. Increasing the number of heat transfer pins on a combustorpanel may increase the heat transfer capability of the combustor panel,but due to limitations or expenses of casting and/or forgingmanufacturing methods, further decreasing of the space between adjacentheat transfer pins may result in “bridging” between adjacent heattransfer pins. Such “bridging” would therefore decrease the effectivesurface area available for heat transfer. In other words, according tovarious embodiments and as described in greater detail below, there maybe a practical manufacturing limitation on how small the spacing betweenadjacent heat transfer pins can be.

FIG. 4, in accordance with various embodiments, illustrates a combustorpanel 210 having an attachment feature 214 and heat transfer pins 216.As mentioned above, like numbers refer to like elements, thus combustorpanel 210 shown in FIG. 4 may be similar and analogous to the combustorpanel 210 shown in FIG. 3. In various embodiments, the combustor panel210 shown in FIG. 4 may be the aft-most combustor panel of the combustor56. That is, the aft combustor panel 210 is the last combustor panel ofthe combustor 56 before the combustion gases enter the turbine section28. The temperature of the combustion gases at this stage in thecombustor may be comparatively hotter than combustion gases upstream,according to various embodiments. In various embodiments, the combustorpanel 210 may be a forward-most combustor panel of the combustor 56 andthe temperature of the combustion gases at this forward stage of thecombustor may be comparatively hotter than combustion gases downstream.

FIG. 5, in various embodiments, illustrates a radial plan view of theaft combustor panel 210 after a metallic coating 220 has been applied toan aft grouping 216B of the heat transfer pins 216. That is, a forwardgrouping 216A of the heat transfer pins may be disposed forward on theaft combustor panel 210 relative to the aft grouping 216B of the heattransfer pins. In various embodiments, the forward grouping 216A of theheat transfer pins may be free of the metallic coating 220 and the aftgrouping 216B of the heat transfer pins may have the metallic coating220 applied thereon. Said differently, the forward grouping 216A of theheat transfer pins may be uncoated and the aft grouping 216B of the heattransfer pins may be coated with the metallic coating 220. In variousembodiments, the aft grouping 216B of the heat transfer pins 216 mayinclude a last, aft row of the heat transfer pins adjacent an aft edge222 of the aft combustor panel 210. In various embodiments, the aftgrouping may include two or more of the last, aft rows of the heattransfer pins. For example, the aft grouping 216B of the heat transferpins 216 may include the last five aft rows, according to variousembodiments.

In various embodiments, the metallic coating 220 may include anysuitable metal or metal alloy material that may be applied using aphysical vapor deposition process or a low pressure plasma sprayprocess. For example, in one embodiment the metallic coating is an alloyof chromium aluminum alloy that includes nickel, cobalt, iron, and/ormixtures thereof. In various embodiments, the metallic coating 220 maybe a first stage bond coating, as described in greater detail below,that is used to treat combustion facing surfaces of the combustor.

In various embodiments, the metallic coating 220 is applied on aft andlateral portions of the aft grouping 216B of the heat transfer pins.That is, according to various embodiments, a forward portion of each pinof the aft grouping 216B of the heat transfer pins may be free ofmetallic coating. The application of the metallic coating 220 increasesthe surface area of the aft grouping 216B of the heat transfer pins,thus improving the capability of the combustor panel to transfer heat,especially adjacent the aft edge 222 of the aft combustor panel 210, andimproving oxidation resistance. In other words, the circumferentialdistance 219 between adjacent heat transfer pins in the aft grouping216B may be less than the circumferential distance 218 between adjacentheat transfer pins in the forward grouping 216A. In various embodiments,the circumferential distance 219 between adjacent heat transfer pins inthe aft grouping 216B may be between about 0.010 inches and about 0.040inches (0.25-1.0 millimeters). As used in this context relating to thecircumferential distance 219 between adjacent heat transfer pins in theaft grouping 216B, the term “about” is defined as plus or minus 0.005inches (0.13 millimeters). In various embodiments, the circumferentialdistance 219 between adjacent heat transfer pins in the aft grouping216B may be less than about 0.020 inches (0.5 millimeters).

In various embodiments, the axial distance between adjacent rows of heattransfer pins may remain unchanged after the application of the metalliccoating 220. In various embodiments, as described in greater detailbelow, the metallic coating 220 may be a first stage bond coating thatmay be applied on the combustion facing surface 112 of the combustorpanels 110.

In various embodiments, and with reference to FIG. 6, a method 690 ofmanufacturing a combustor is disclosed. The method 690 may includeapplying a metallic coating 220 on a combustion facing surface of an aftcombustor panel 210 at step 692. The method 690 may further includeapplying the metallic coating 220 on an aft edge 222 of the aftcombustor panel 210 at step 694. The method 690 may also includeapplying the metallic coating on an aft grouping 216B of heat transferpins that extend from a cooling surface 113 opposite the combustionfacing surface 112 of the aft combustor panel 210 at step 696. Invarious embodiments, as mentioned above, the metallic coating 220 may bea first stage bond coating applied on the combustion facing surface ofthe combustor panels. Accordingly, the method 690 may include applying(e.g., via physical vapor deposition process or a low pressure plasmaspray process) the metallic coating 220 on the aft edge 222 and the aftgrouping 216B of heat transfer pins of the aft combustor panel 210during application of the metallic coating 220 on the combustion facingsurface 112 of the combustor panels 110.

In various embodiments, the method 690 may further include, after thestep 692 of applying the metallic coating 220 on the combustion facingsurface 112 of the aft combustor panel 210, applying a ceramic coatingon the combustion facing surface 112 of the aft combustor panel andpreventing the ceramic coating from application on the aft grouping 216Bof the heat transfer pins extending from the cooling surface 113opposite the combustion facing surface 112 of the aft combustor panel210. That is, according to various embodiments, the ceramic coating maybe prevented from being applied onto the aft grouping 216B of the heattransfer pins as the ceramic would thermally insulate the heat transferpins, thus reducing the capability of the heat transfer pins to transferheat away from the combustion chamber.

In various embodiments, the method 690 may be performed with thecombustor 56 assembled. That is, the combustor panels 110 may be mountedto the combustor shells 104, 184 during application of the metalliccoating 220. Accordingly, in various embodiments, the metallic coatingmay be applied from, for example, a spray device that is positioned aftof and/or in between the inner and outer combustor panels. In variousembodiments, the step 696 of applying the metallic coating 220 on theaft grouping 216B of the heat transfer pins may include applying themetallic coating 220 on aft and lateral portions of the aft grouping ofthe heat transfer pins. In various embodiments, after the step 696 ofapplying the metallic coating on the aft grouping 216B of the heattransfer pins, a forward portion of the aft grouping of the heattransfer pins may be free of the metallic coating 220.

As used herein, “aft” refers to the direction associated with theexhaust (e.g., the back end) of a gas turbine engine. As used herein,“forward” refers to the direction associated with the intake (e.g., thefront end) of a gas turbine engine.

A first component that is “axially outward” of a second component meansthat a first component is positioned at a greater distance in the aft orforward direction away from the longitudinal center of the gas turbinealong the longitudinal axis of the gas turbine, than the secondcomponent. A first component that is “axially inward” of a secondcomponent means that the first component is positioned closer to thelongitudinal center of the gas turbine along the longitudinal axis ofthe gas turbine, than the second component.

A first component that is “radially outward” of a second component meansthat the first component is positioned at a greater distance away fromthe engine central longitudinal axis than the second component. A firstcomponent that is “radially inward” of a second component means that thefirst component is positioned closer to the engine central longitudinalaxis than the second component. In the case of components that rotatecircumferentially about the engine central longitudinal axis, a firstcomponent that is radially inward of a second component rotates througha circumferentially shorter path than the second component. Theterminology “radially outward” and “radially inward” may also be usedrelative to references other than the engine central longitudinal axis.For example, a first component of a combustor that is radially inward orradially outward of a second component of a combustor is positionedrelative to the central longitudinal axis of the combustor.

Benefits, other advantages, and solutions to problems have beendescribed herein with regard to specific embodiments. Furthermore, theconnecting lines shown in the various figures contained herein areintended to represent exemplary functional relationships and/or physicalcouplings between the various elements. It should be noted that manyalternative or additional functional relationships or physicalconnections may be present in a practical system. However, the benefits,advantages, solutions to problems, and any elements that may cause anybenefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronounced arenot to be construed as critical, required, or essential features orelements of the disclosure.

The scope of the disclosure is accordingly to be limited by nothingother than the appended claims, in which reference to an element in thesingular is not intended to mean “one and only one” unless explicitly sostated, but rather “one or more.” It is to be understood that unlessspecifically stated otherwise, references to “a,” “an,” and/or “the” mayinclude one or more than one and that reference to an item in thesingular may also include the item in the plural. All ranges and ratiolimits disclosed herein may be combined.

Moreover, where a phrase similar to “at least one of A, B, or C” is usedin the claims, it is intended that the phrase be interpreted to meanthat A alone may be present in an embodiment, B alone may be present inan embodiment, C alone may be present in an embodiment, or that anycombination of the elements A, B and C may be present in a singleembodiment; for example, A and B, A and C, B and C, or A and B and C.Different cross-hatching is used throughout the figures to denotedifferent parts but not necessarily to denote the same or differentmaterials.

The steps recited in any of the method or process descriptions may beexecuted in any order and are not necessarily limited to the orderpresented. Furthermore, any reference to singular includes pluralembodiments, and any reference to more than one component or step mayinclude a singular embodiment or step. Elements and steps in the figuresare illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily beenrendered according to any particular sequence. For example, steps thatmay be performed concurrently or in different order are illustrated inthe figures to help to improve understanding of embodiments of thepresent disclosure.

Any reference to attached, fixed, connected or the like may includepermanent, removable, temporary, partial, full and/or any other possibleattachment option. Additionally, any reference to without contact (orsimilar phrases) may also include reduced contact or minimal contact.Surface shading lines may be used throughout the figures to denotedifferent parts or areas but not necessarily to denote the same ordifferent materials. In some cases, reference coordinates may bespecific to each figure.

Systems, methods and apparatus are provided herein. In the detaileddescription herein, references to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”,“various embodiments”, etc., indicate that the embodiment described mayinclude a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but everyembodiment may not necessarily include the particular feature,structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such phrases are not necessarilyreferring to the same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature,structure, or characteristic is described in connection with anembodiment, it is submitted that it is within the knowledge of oneskilled in the art to affect such feature, structure, or characteristicin connection with other embodiments whether or not explicitlydescribed. After reading the description, it will be apparent to oneskilled in the relevant art(s) how to implement the disclosure inalternative embodiments.

Furthermore, no element, component, or method step in the presentdisclosure is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless ofwhether the element, component, or method step is explicitly recited inthe claims. No claim element is intended to invoke 35 U.S.C. 112(f)unless the element is expressly recited using the phrase “means for.” Asused herein, the terms “comprises”, “comprising”, or any other variationthereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that aprocess, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elementsdoes not include only those elements but may include other elements notexpressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, orapparatus.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of manufacturing a combustor, the methodcomprising: applying a metallic coating on a combustion facing surfaceof an aft combustor panel; applying the metallic coating on an aft edgeof the aft combustor panel; applying the metallic coating on an aftgrouping of heat transfer pins extending from a cooling surface oppositethe combustion facing surface of the aft combustor panel; after theapplying the metallic coating on the combustion facing surface of theaft combustor panel, applying a ceramic coating on the combustion facingsurface of the aft combustor panel; and preventing the ceramic coatingfrom application on the aft grouping of heat transfer pins extendingfrom the cooling surface opposite the combustion facing surface of theaft combustor panel.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the method isperformed with the aft combustor panel mounted to a combustor shell. 3.The method of claim 1, wherein the applying the metallic coating on theaft grouping of heat transfer pins comprises applying the metalliccoating on aft and lateral portions of the aft grouping of heat transferpins.
 4. The method of claim 3, wherein after the applying the metalliccoating on the aft grouping of heat transfer pins, a forward grouping ofheat transfer pins extending from the cooling surface is uncoated. 5.The method of claim 4, wherein a first circumferential distance betweena first heat transfer pin of the aft grouping of heat transfer pins anda second heat transfer pin of the aft grouping of heat transfer pins isless than a second circumferential distance between a third heattransfer pin of the forward grouping of heat transfer pins and a fourthheat transfer pin of the forward grouping of heat transfer pins, thesecond heat transfer pin being adjacent to the first heat transfer pin,and the fourth heat transfer pin being adjacent to the third heattransfer pin, wherein the metallic coating is applied to the first heattransfer pin and the second heat transfer pin, and wherein the thirdheat transfer pin and the fourth heat transfer pin are uncoated.
 6. Themethod of claim 4, wherein after the applying the metallic coating onthe aft grouping of heat transfer pins, an axial distance between theaft grouping of heat transfer pins and the forward grouping of heattransfer pins remains unchanged.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein theaft grouping of heat transfer pins comprises between one and five rowsof heat transfer pins adjacent the aft edge of the aft combustor panel.8. The method of claim 1, wherein the metallic coating is a first stagebond coating applied to the combustion facing surface.